| 1.
In what ways is
The Rape of the Lock a mock-heroic poem?
2.
What is the background story
(occasion) for the poem?
To whom does the poet dedicate the
poem?
3.
In
ll. 7-8, is the male protagonist well-bred?
Can you describe him from his
behavior?
4.
Pay attention to the poetic diction
Pope uses in ll. 7-11.
To what does this kind of diction
belong? Heroic, gentle, graceful, sarcastic, ironic, cynical, witty,
jeering, or satirical?
What effect does this create?
5.
Comment on the guardian Sylph's
speech to Belinda.
Is it quite a style?
6.
When the Fair expires in all their
pride, what happens to them?
(Hint:
ll. 59-60 (fire) fiery termagants--Salamander;
ll.61-62 (water) soft yielding minds--water nymph;
ll.63-64 (earth) graver prude--Gnome; ll.65-66
(air) light
coquettes--Sylph in the air.)
7.
Why does the Sylph advise Belinda to
remain fair and chaste?
8.
Where are the little Sylphs to
protect her?
To protect her from what
kind of men?
9.
When the world imagines women go
astray, who guides them on their way?
10. What does Ariel
predict? Does he know exactly what, how, and where this will happen?
11. How does Belinda end
her dream?
12.
To what does the poet compare
Belinda's dressing up?
13.
Pay attention to the poetic diction
of the last stanza. What kind of diction is this?
(unveiled, silver vase, mystic, robed
in white, offerings, curious toil, glittering spoil,…)
14.
The brief reference of India and
Arabia expands the scope and the atmosphere. But what opposite effect
does it bring?
15.
According to
l.139, what does the poet portray the lady as here?
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